Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, September 29
Fresno, Calif.
7:00 PM
Fresno State
9-5, 0-3MW
2
vs
3
UNLV
14-1, 3-0MW
1
2
3
4
5
F
UNLV
22
20
25
25
15
3
Fresno State
25
25
17
19
13
2
'Dogs drop thrilling five-set heartbreaker to UNLV
9/29/2016 11:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FRESNO, Calif. - Despite winning the first two sets against UNLV, the Fresno State volleyball team dropped a hard-fought five-set thriller to the Rebels on Thursday night at the Save Mart Center. Individual sets scores were 22-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 15-13.
"We continued to chip away at UNLV all night," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell after the 'Dogs tough loss. "Whether we were up by two or down by two, we were steady and stayed with it and I like to see that. Despite UNLV edging us a few statistical categories, we stayed right with them. We got a little undisciplined at certain times and were not able to execute at times when we needed to, but tonight's match could have gone either way and unfortunately the victory went to UNLV."
Fresno State (9-5, 0-3 MW) was led by senior outside hitter Aleisha Coates who posted her second-highest kill total of the season finishing with 19. Coates added eight digs and a pair of blocks while Brielle Hefner had her fourth double-digit kill performance totaling 10. Senior libero Maggie Eppright led the way defensively with 19 digs as she is now only four digs shy of moving into the top 10 all-time in Mountain West history in that category. The 'Dogs totaled a .219 attack percentage as a team finishing with 56 kills, nine service aces and 53 digs.
UNLV (14-1, 3-0 MW) had three players finish with double figure kill totals as MW-point leader Bree Hammel finished with 18 followed by Sadie Stutzman with 17 and Alyssa Wing added 14. Alexis Patterson added 54 assists and Hammel posted a double-double as she had a team-best 16 digs. The Rebels totaled 71 kills as a team and finished with a .306 attack percentage and 72 digs.
"That was a good match and we had our ups and down, but so did UNLV and we kept pushing them to their limit," added Netherby-Sewell. "UNLV is a team that is getting votes in the top 25 and has only lost one match all season and that shows me that we can beat any team in this conference. We have some inexperience on the floor so it is hard to win those close ones, but I think we are going to learn real fast how to close and put balls away. These close games come down to just a matter of inches and we know we can play with the top teams in this conference."
The 'Dogs rallied in the first set from a 17-14 deficit to score 11 of the final 16 points to claim a 25-22 win as six different Bulldogs had kills. The Bulldogs continued their strong play in the second set taking a 19-15 lead after one of five kills by Coates in the set. With the Rebels closing the gap to one (19-18), the 'Dogs scored six of the final eight points to claim a 25-20 victory.
After a short break, the Rebels came out of the intermission on fire taking the third set 25-17 as they led wire-to-wire. The 'Dogs looked to close the match out in the fourth set taking a 15-11 after a kill by Coates. The Rebels tied the set at 16 and 17 before taking the lead for good on the next point. The 'Dogs were unable to get any closer as UNLV scored eight of the final 10 points of the set.
The first time the Rebels have been pushed to five sets all season, the fifth set got out to an even 5-5 start and stayed locked at nine apiece after a kill by Hefner. With a kill by Taylor Slover tying the match at 10, two more points for the 'Dogs put them on the brink of the victory. After a Rebel timeout, UNLV scored the next three points before a kill by Lauren Torres knotted the set at 13. UNLV was able to capture the final two points to complete the comeback victory.
The 'Dogs return to action on Saturday hosting New Mexico (10-6, 1-2 MW) at the Save Mart Center at 1 p.m. It will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night as all fans who show their support and wear pink get into the match for free.
Mountain West Scoreboard
Nevada 3, at Air Force 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 25-17)
at San Jose State 3, New Mexico 2 (21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 29-27, 15-13)
Colorado State 3, at Utah State 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18)
at Boise State 3, San Diego State 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-16)
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2016 Fresno State football season are now on sale at GoBulldogs.com or by calling 559-278-3647. 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
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"We continued to chip away at UNLV all night," said head coach Lauren Netherby-Sewell after the 'Dogs tough loss. "Whether we were up by two or down by two, we were steady and stayed with it and I like to see that. Despite UNLV edging us a few statistical categories, we stayed right with them. We got a little undisciplined at certain times and were not able to execute at times when we needed to, but tonight's match could have gone either way and unfortunately the victory went to UNLV."
Fresno State (9-5, 0-3 MW) was led by senior outside hitter Aleisha Coates who posted her second-highest kill total of the season finishing with 19. Coates added eight digs and a pair of blocks while Brielle Hefner had her fourth double-digit kill performance totaling 10. Senior libero Maggie Eppright led the way defensively with 19 digs as she is now only four digs shy of moving into the top 10 all-time in Mountain West history in that category. The 'Dogs totaled a .219 attack percentage as a team finishing with 56 kills, nine service aces and 53 digs.
UNLV (14-1, 3-0 MW) had three players finish with double figure kill totals as MW-point leader Bree Hammel finished with 18 followed by Sadie Stutzman with 17 and Alyssa Wing added 14. Alexis Patterson added 54 assists and Hammel posted a double-double as she had a team-best 16 digs. The Rebels totaled 71 kills as a team and finished with a .306 attack percentage and 72 digs.
"That was a good match and we had our ups and down, but so did UNLV and we kept pushing them to their limit," added Netherby-Sewell. "UNLV is a team that is getting votes in the top 25 and has only lost one match all season and that shows me that we can beat any team in this conference. We have some inexperience on the floor so it is hard to win those close ones, but I think we are going to learn real fast how to close and put balls away. These close games come down to just a matter of inches and we know we can play with the top teams in this conference."
The 'Dogs rallied in the first set from a 17-14 deficit to score 11 of the final 16 points to claim a 25-22 win as six different Bulldogs had kills. The Bulldogs continued their strong play in the second set taking a 19-15 lead after one of five kills by Coates in the set. With the Rebels closing the gap to one (19-18), the 'Dogs scored six of the final eight points to claim a 25-20 victory.
After a short break, the Rebels came out of the intermission on fire taking the third set 25-17 as they led wire-to-wire. The 'Dogs looked to close the match out in the fourth set taking a 15-11 after a kill by Coates. The Rebels tied the set at 16 and 17 before taking the lead for good on the next point. The 'Dogs were unable to get any closer as UNLV scored eight of the final 10 points of the set.
The first time the Rebels have been pushed to five sets all season, the fifth set got out to an even 5-5 start and stayed locked at nine apiece after a kill by Hefner. With a kill by Taylor Slover tying the match at 10, two more points for the 'Dogs put them on the brink of the victory. After a Rebel timeout, UNLV scored the next three points before a kill by Lauren Torres knotted the set at 13. UNLV was able to capture the final two points to complete the comeback victory.
The 'Dogs return to action on Saturday hosting New Mexico (10-6, 1-2 MW) at the Save Mart Center at 1 p.m. It will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night as all fans who show their support and wear pink get into the match for free.
Mountain West Scoreboard
Nevada 3, at Air Force 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 25-17)
at San Jose State 3, New Mexico 2 (21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 29-27, 15-13)
Colorado State 3, at Utah State 0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18)
at Boise State 3, San Diego State 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-16)
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2016 Fresno State football season are now on sale at GoBulldogs.com or by calling 559-278-3647. 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateVB
Instagram:Â FresnoStatevball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Â
Team Stats
UNLV
FS
Kills
71
56
Errors
23
21
Attempts
157
160
Hitting %
.306
.219
Points
87.0
73.0
Assists
66
52
Aces
5
9
Blocks
11.0
8.0
Game Leaders
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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